2016), Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie (January 27

This was a delightful conclusion to the Acillary trilogy. The language is so simple and straight-forward while introducing complex issues that simmer in our reality. For best effect, start with Ancillary Justice! A real and enduring treat!

Loved the entire trilogy -- the first and third books are probably the best. You have to work hard, in Mercy, to keep the characters and their various personae straight. Gets easier in the later books.

A strong finish to an excellent trilogy. My favorite in the series is still the first, which because of the nature of the story it tells, does more interesting things with perspective and narration. But that is not to say that this or the previous book (number two) are poorer; merely more straightforward in how they are narrated. Well-plotted, very well written, with excellent characterization and an engaging, immersive world. I found myself satisfied at the end, but also sad to bid adieu to the series.

This was great. I realize some readers prefer more space battles in their space opera, but, you know, there are tons of books for you guys. What we don't see often are space opera novels that are so human. (Although perhaps Breq would not appreciate that description.)

More than anything, as I read each page I was keenly aware that this was a novel written by an adult.

At worst, this last book is guilty of a feel-good ending. But given the unpleasant state of things in America right now, I'm pretty much OK with that.

Thank you also, Ms. Leckie, for not keeping us waiting too long for the conclusion. Now I must try to get two hours' sleep before the alarm goes off. I just hope I don't smash it.

Edit: Wow. In those two hours I had the best and most detailed dream ever. Just as good as this book. Thanks again, Ann Leckie!

Sufficient entry as the third in the Ancillary series. Would have liked to see more questions left open for additional books, but most the salient questions were answered in this volume. However, the author is likely more twisty than I have allowed for and thus she may have more cards up by sleeve to spring on us as a way to extend the series.

I doubt there needs to be one more review singing the praises of this novel. It is well told, immersive, and makes space opera look like the next hot thing. If Lois McMaster Bujold were to pick an author, my guess is it would be Ann Leckie.

Cry more, Sad Puppies. Your tears are delicious.

I've been reading SF for 30 years, and this series has become my favourite ever. It is the series I didn't realise I was craving until it arrived.

When Ann Leckie can write about Breq doing stupidly outrageous ship to ship combat tactics and the tension that leaves me on the edge of my seat is Breq's internal consideration of her relationship to her AI companions, that is amazing writing and empathy.

The best story tellers leave us wanting more. The author's portrayal of the multiple points of view of a distributed system of AI and human ancillaries, as well as her grasp of the unfathomability of truly alien intelligence are compelling. Genuinely novel thinking and outstanding yarn spinning.

A riveting end to this trilogy, one that was emotionally satisfying, and makes me wonder what else we might see from the Imperial Radch universe. I love Leckie's writing style, and gobbled up the first two in this series. If you enjoyed the first two, this won't disappoint you. Love Brec so much!

I have to admit this is “relatively” bad, especially considering that two previous books were near perfect(the first one was legendary). Still so fond of all the vivid characters and will definitely read when there’s a sequel, but guess it’s not gonna happen since this is a trilogy.

A really great space opera with more going for it. Fans of The Culture will enjoy this different take on sentiment ships and most everyone will be bemused by how our assumptions are challenged by this genderless society.

It feels like the author felt tired and just want to wrap up the series as soon as possible. There was so much potential in the series and the last book felt rushed and didn't work on those said potential.

What a super series. Thoroughly enjoyed all three books. Definitely start with book one. I am very enamored of the way gender pronoun is used. This third volume does feel more like the last half of volume two.

Explores a number of interesting themes in new and unique ways, from AI to gender roles. Definitely worth the read, though it does take time and effort to sort out the storylines in the 1st book of the trilogy.

Largely focused on resolving events set in motion by the first couple books, but definitely brought some interesting twists to the end of this first trilogy. Can't wait to see what else we get from Leckie in the Imperial Radch universe!

'Ancillary Mercy', the finale of Leckie's Imperial Radch trilogy lacks the focus and energy of the first book, 'Ancillary Justice'. The book loses momentum some time before the halfway point, and Leckie allows the story to rattle to its conclusion in a diffused and undisciplined manner.

One is left with the impression that Leckie steps from Ancillary Sword, the second book in the trilogy, to this one without enough of the larger story arc remaining to fill third volume. Leckie uses the extra space to develop secondary characters who've been painfully flat until now, even allowing the normally dour Breq moments of humor. However, this isn't sufficient to overcome the the conclusion's structural weaknesses, and lackluster delivery.

Fans of the author may disagree, giving Leckie a pass on the series' second and third books owing to the stellar quality of 'Ancillary Justice'. However, 'Ancillary Justice' is the yardstick against which one must measure Leckie's work. Passes for lesser works are for lesser authors.

This is definitely a more engaging book than the second, I didn't find that the pace was too slow at any point. The ending to the series is satisfactory, although I feel like there are still a lot of loose ends, and that it could have been thought out better. If this really is the end then it's a shame, because there is still so much to be explored in the wonderful world that Ann has created.

[SPOILERS]

I'm still trying to figure out whether Leckie just completely fumbled the ball, this is a truly bizarre attempt at deconstruction of the form, or the publisher had enough influence on Leckie to make a tetralogy an option if sales justify it.

I found the grand scale conflict introduced in the first book to be both novel and compelling, and in the highest spirit of great science fiction.

Human civilization has been in thrall for millennia to an immortal despot that has thousands of interconnected clone bodies, and now the clone network has fractured into conflicting sub-networks largely because of interactions with an inscrutable and vastly technologically superior alien race.

So, after introducing a protagonist that is uniquely positioned to influence and perhaps overcome this precarious situation, the trilogy concludes with the protagonist retiring to a backwater system on the far frontier of the galactic empire, in order to build a utopian society under the benign patronage of the aliens.

It's like Luke going back to Tatooine to get the Sand People to live in harmony with the rest of the moisture farmers, or Frodo giving The Ring back to Gollum and returning to the Shire to rehabilitate the family reputation.

Science Fiction as an art form is fundamentally about asking What If questions, and speculating on answers. The best science fiction combines asking questions no one else has thought to ask, or has as yet been able to articulate, with speculation that compels reflection about the very nature of human existence.

Leckie succeeded in launching herself into the stratosphere of science fiction askers: How does the character of human civilization change when a dictator can clone herself into her own omnipotent and omnipresent bureaucracy? What happens if a network of cloned despots fails to maintain synchronization of its goals across nodes? Who has the ability to intervene, or even to understand such a conflict?

And then...nothing.

The best kind of satisfying ending -- plots are wrapped, characters change, and I'm excited to read more in the same universe (though it will be hard to let Breq go).

Each of the Ancillary books has had a different flavor -- Justice was Breq's single-minded pursuit of revenge, Sword saw her struggling with command, and Mercy has her trying to find a viable future (first she has to even accept that there can be a future for her beyond revenge). Of course, this isn't just done over tea. She is faced with all the threats, implied or overt, from previous books: Mianaai, rebellious citizens, the Presger, other AIs and her own crew (and their feelings for her).

What stood out the most from the previous two was the humor; I laughed out loud several times, and each of the characters shows a distinct sense of humor (though at least one, the Presger translator, may not be intentional humor).

So, it's funny, filled with big ideas and complex characters, and it's got some great action. What more do you want from your space opera/sci-fi?

If you haven't read Ancillary Justice and Ancillary Mercy already, you should do so, then prepare yourself for an even better treat. Leckie stepped up her game for the final volume.

Uggh.. everything I liked about the 1st book was not present in this one. The real house wives of Undergarden.. what a waste of time and money. So sad, this series had so much potential. The 2nd book was bad and this one is even worse. Don't waste your $$$ or time.

Captivating from start to finish as a seamless follow on from the first two books. Loved the complexity of the multilayered construct of the Radchai world and the interaction with tha Presger. The concept of the AI and human interface and ancillaries and then the political struggle on universe, Radchai, system, planet and Ship/Station levels all worked. Loved it.

The relationships between AI's and "their" slaved humans, in a society that makes no distinction for gender is the setting for this fantastic series. Morality, ethics, greed, hubris set in the far future. This third book is equally as good as it's predecessors and I want more of the ancillary OneEsk 19, please!

Satisfying conclusion of the trilogy. Though I was expecting the third book would go beyond the scope of 2nd one, I like it the way it is. Stayed up till 5am to finish the book, and having to say goodbye to all the wonderful characters make me feel bit sad.

Each book in Leckie's series the Imperial Radch begins slowly, with a build up of each element of the story and then suddenly exploding in action which one can then follow because of the meticulous build up.

Three well crafted books, and a blunt message, with a longer, stronger, and gar more subtle message insuinated between.
Many questions outstanding. An ending, unsatisfactory.. but arent all real endings?